Rural Ireland is driving growth in self-charging hybrid cars

Galway Advertiser, Thu, Jul 19, 2018

Ireland is experiencing a significant growth in self-charging hybrid cars.

According to the Society of the Irish Motoring Industry latest year on year comparison, the sale of self-charging hybrid (HEV ) cars has jumped in all provinces in 2018, with a 58 per cent increase in Connacht, 83 per cent increase in Leinster, 76 per cent increase in Munster, and 54 per cent increase in Ulster (Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal ) compared to the same time period in 2017.

Led by sales of Toyota models, counties that saw the most significant growth in self-charging hybrid since 2017 are:

Offaly – 142 per cent increase

Longford – 131 per cent increase

Louth – 128 per cent increase

Wexford – 119 per cent increase

Tipperary – 115 per cent increase

Kerry – 88 per cent increase

Donegal – 88 per cent oncrease

Meath – 8 per cent increase

Toyota announced earlier this year that, in line with its Built for a Better World brand promise, it is ceasing production of diesel passenger cars this year to focus on more environmentally sustainable vehicles, led by self-charging hybrid.

“It’s fantastic to see such significant hybrid growth across the country, and not just in the most populated cities," he says. "In the past, some commentators have tried to dismiss hybrid as being relevant only to city driving, but the percentage growth numbers paint aclear story of how hybrid is being embraced in both urban and more rural environments.

“With our new game-changing self-charging hybrid models coming in 2019, including the return of the iconic Camry after a 14-year absence, we expect hybrid to go from strength to strength and the trend of rural adoption of hybrid to accelerate quicker and further than where it is today.”

The full hybrid growth numbers for the Republic of Ireland from June 30, 2017 to June 30, 2018 are as follows:

County % Growth

Carlow 70%

Cavan 24%

Clare 81%

Cork 68%

Donegal 88%

Dublin 72%

Galway 57%

Kerry 88%

Kildare 74%

Kilkenny 41%

Laois 51%

Leitrim 71%

Limerick 67%

Longford 131%

Louth 128%

Mayo 83%

Meath 83%

Monaghan 50%

Offaly 142%

Roscommon 56%

Sligo 23%

Tipperary 115%

Waterford 37%

Westmeath 64%

Wexford 119%

Wicklow 23%

For more details on Toyota’s range of hybrid cars contact Tony Burke Motors, local Toyota Dealer, on 091-480123 or visit www.Tonyburkemotors.ie